Custom Awards vs Personalized Awards
90% of the awards we produce are personalized awards, which means we take a timeless award style and personalize it for you based on your requirements and details. We create a unique design for your award and then apply it either by sandblasting or laser engraving.
Upon request, we also create custom awards or custom trophies for some clients. By custom, we mean that the shape, dimensions, and materials used, are designed and manufactured especially for you. Note that custom awards and trophies are usually personalized as well.
While both types of awards are prestigious and unique, there are some aspects worth considering before pursuing a custom awards project.
Custom Awards - Opportunities:
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Exclusivity: you can create a truly unique and exclusive award that represents your organization in a memorable way.
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Stature: custom awards can help increase the brand of your recognition program and organization.
Custom Awards - Challenges:
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Cost: custom awards & trophies often cost more due to additional design and development costs and limited production runs
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Lead times: it’s wise to budget at least 10-14 weeks for the design, development and production time of a custom awards project, more if prototypes are needed.
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Consistency: in some cases, it can be challenging to maintain consistency from year to year – particularly if the custom awards require materials from multiple sources.
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Limited Availability: it may not be possible to create extra or replacement custom awards on short notice, unless extra pieces have been produced as contingency.
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Presentation Boxes: custom awards & trophies often have unique shapes, which means they also require customized, form-fitting presentation boxes. Depending on the size and shape of the awards, customized presentation boxes can add to the total cost.
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Recognizability: your custom awards may be recognized within your organization, but will they also be recognized as awards by friends and family and people outside of your industry? It may not matter, but it's worth considering.
Recommendations
Customized awards can be truly unique and effective when developed within realistic guidelines. However, similar or superior results can often be achieved more quickly and cost effectively by using existing award styles personalized specifically for your organization and occasion.
If you are interested in pursuing a custom awards project, we have the expertise and skills to realize your vision within the following guidelines:
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Your project has a minimum 10 week lead time available.
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You require a minimum of 10 custom awards produced at one time.
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You have a minimum budget of $200 per custom award.
All custom award orders require a 70% non-refundable deposit to begin, with the balance due upon delivery. Should you decide to order additional custom awards for future use, we will be happy to inventory these items for you for up to 3 years and deliver them as required. Note that all non-stock orders are also considered custom awards orders.
For custom awards and trophies, we work primarily with crystal, glass, metal and wood, which are timeless materials that people love to see, hold and feel. We work with clients in the US, Canada and beyond! To start your custom awards project or to learn more, contact info (@) eclipseawards (dot) com.